2024 BMW F 900 GS Major Update Overview!

If you’re interested in mid-capacity adventure machines, this one is for you, BMW recently announced updates to the F 900 GS, in the thee formats, the standard, the Adventure and F 800 GS. Moto Journo Kris here, let’s see if the 2024 BMW F 900 GS will be the best mid-capacity adventure next year, and more importantly, if you need to buy one.

Why the F 900 GS and not the GSA or F 800? Well this particular model variant is on the receiving end of the biggest changes overall, although obviously there’s improvements across all three.

Starting with the engine, we’re seeing a capacity increase from 853 cc to 895 cc, for the in-line twin-cylinder, which runs a 270/450 firing order, helping inject a bit more character into that German engineering. That capacity increase sees the bore increase 2 mm to 86 mm with the stroke remaining 77 mm.

Now on the F 900 GS and Adventure, you’ll be getting 77 kW or 105 hp, with the F 800 GS offering a reduced 64 kW or 87 hp. That’s the liquid-cooled, dual overhead cam engine with four cam operated valves per cylinder, and running dry-sump lubrication. Compression is run at 13.1 to one across all three models, so it’s fairly clear the lower output of the 800 is pure tune.

Standard electronics include the two riding modes, Rain and Road, alongside Dynamic Traction Control and the cornering ABS Pro system, with a dynamic brake light in the mix. You can expand the electronic loadout further, but let’s focus on the standard bikes for my sanity’s sake.

Both the F 900 GS and the Adventure also offer a set of new, Showa ‘Gabel’ 43 mm fully adjustable USD forks as standard, and again this can be upgraded to electronic suspension across all these models. The stock shock is a monoshock with rebound and preload adjustment. Travel on both is 230 mm front and 215 mm rear.

Now a big point of note is that the F 900 GS has lost 14 kg, however the GSA only dropped two, and the 800 remains the same as the outgoing model.

The reason for weight loss is the adoption of some F 900 GS specific changes, including a new lighter plastic fuel tank and rear section, new bodywork, lighter swingarm, and a host of off-road orientated tweaks.

This seems to include ergonomic changes, new foot brake lever, as well as an Akrapovic silencer, the last alone saving 1.7 kg. As part of that change, the tank capacity also drops half a litre to 14.5 in total, which isn’t an enormous capacity, but should get you past 300 km according to their 4.4 L per 100 km figure. Of course a plastic tank isn’t the most premium of features, but is perhaps not unexpected for an adventure bike.

While all models run LED lighting, the 900 GS gets a new headlight, including a larger low beam opening angle for a bigger throw of light. The same is true of the 6.5 inch TFT display across all three models, although the big advancement here is for the 800 GS which had an analogue display previously. The 900 GS does benefit from the multifunction holder though, for mounting a Navigator or similar, although an option is required if you want to run the BMW Navigator or Ride Cradle.

Standard to all three models is also heated grips, which is definitely a nice feature too.

The F 900 GSA meanwhile specifically adds new side panels, and an aluminium engine guard as standard fitment.

The F 800 GS just gets hand protectors and the Variocase carrier, on top of the relevant updates already mentioned, and runs the lowest seat height at 815 mm out of the box, as well as the 19 inch front wheel and 17 inch rear, both cast units.

The 900 variants by comparison run a taller 875 mm, in large part due to the longer travel suspension, but also obviously because they are the more off-road orientated machines. They get the 21 inch front rim, with spoked wheels at both ends.

All models share the bridge-type steel shell frame, as well as the twin front disc brakes with 305 mm rotors and two-piston floating calipers, and of course the single 265 mm rear with single-piston floating caliper.

Images courtesy of BMW Motorrad.

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